Vocabulary in context
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Indispensable
Absolutely necessary; essential; cannot be done without.
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Imagine This
Imagine a surgeon about to begin a life-saving operation. The team realizes that a crucial instrument is indispensable to completing the procedure; without it, the operation cannot proceed and the patient’s life is at stake.
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Sounds Like
IN-di-SPEN-suh-buhl
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Looks Like
resembles 'essential' in meaning; visually it contains 'depend' and '-able', hinting at reliance.
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Remember This
Indispensable comes from Latin indispensabilis meaning 'not able to be dispensed with.' Its noun form is indispensability, and the adverb form is indispensably.
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Other Forms
indispensabilitynoun
indispensablyadverb
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Connect With
essential, crucial, vital, necessary, requisite, imperative
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Note
Use with to or for: indispensable to/for. Do not confuse with dispensable (opposite) or with essential (slightly broader).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- A reliable power supply is indispensable for data centers.
- In medical research, access to patient data can be indispensable for drawing valid conclusions.
Synonyms
essentialvitalcrucialnecessaryrequisite
Antonyms
dispensableoptionalunnecessary
Etymology
From French indispensable, from Latin indispensabilis, in- (not) + dispensare (to dispense); literally, not able to be dispensed with.
Mnemonic
IN-DIS-PENSE-ABLE: Break the word into in- + dispense + -able. Remember: if you can dispense with it, it isn't indispensable.
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Averse
adjectiveHaving a strong dislike or opposition to something; unwilling to do or engage in it.
Penchant
nounA strong liking or habitual tendency toward a particular thing; a tendency to do something.
Widespread
adjectiveWidely distributed or occurring over a large area; common throughout a region or population.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
Adept
adjectiveHaving or showing a high level of skill or proficiency; very capable.
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